Electric lamp and method of operating the same



March 31, 19%. L SWCLAIR 2,035,991

ELECTRIC LAMP AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Filed July 15, 1935 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Snnentor Leonard. Sincla 5r.

' Man-ch31, 193% L. SINCLAIR ELECTRIC LAMP AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Filed July 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 snvqL PQLE 66 D'cunLE THM TILTSWITCH 7 50171,: POLE TRANS 9a vour DRY m r.

3nventor III 1 6 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LAMP AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Application July 13, 1935, Serial No. 31,189

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric light and method of operating the same and more particularly to means for producing a high candle power light of low voltage from a source of higher voltage or different current, reducing not only the cost of current consumption, but also the danger of shock from the use of high voltage, and the elimination of wires in the adjustable parts of the lamp and between the standard and lamp proper, which in the lamps now in use tends to prevent their adjustment through 360 degrees.

The object of the invention is to provide a lamp in which the light beam may be rotated through 360 degrees in either a vertical or horizontal plane to provide a standing lamp that may be adjusted in height and all positions from a direct upward beam to produce an indirect floor type lamp, to a downward beam for reading and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide alamp so constructed that by rotating the lamp proper upon its horizontal axis, to direct the light beam downward. from the horizontal plane the candle power of the light will be reduced in an automatic manner.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp having a telescoping staff or supporting tubular stand whereby the height of the lamp may be regulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby an illuminating lamp of great brilliancy and high candle power combinedwith low voltage may be operated from a source of higher voltage or different current at a minimum of cost.

, Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the lamp may be readily and instantly converted so as to operate either on the usual volt A. 0. current, or upon a 6-8 volt storage battery, or on dry cells, making the lamp adaptable for use anywhere, and by the use of suitable modifications, it may be operated on D. C. current.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the light beams are diffused to produce a brilliant high candle power light free from spots and other defects.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the focus of the lighting bulb may be readily changed and adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the lamp may be operated either in a building, outside in storms and upon vehicles without danger of shorting, as no wires are exposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp, the current for which is supplied by a specially designed transformer which induces by induction form the usual alternating current service line, the proper voltage and amperage to operate the usual type of automobile or vacuum bulbs without overtaxing the capacity of the filament or damage to the same; while at the same time producing a very bright light.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the current supply may be instantly changed from 110 volt A. 0. current to 6-8 volt D. C. current from a battery or cells.

With these and. other objects in view, my invention consists in certain construction and combination of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and further illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is understood that slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a floor lamp, shown partly in section and embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a reduced partial side view of the lamp, showing the lamp proper in position for directing the light beam downward.

Figure 3 is a similar view, but showing the position of the lamp proper for directing the light beam downward at an angle.

Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the lamp proper, taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, to illustrate the construction of the lamp proper and its parts.

Figure 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the lamp base, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, to show the interior thereof and the parts therein.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the junction or bracket between the lamp supporting arms and the staff.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the stafi locking means.

Figure 8 shows the electrical wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings:

It should be understood that while I have shown herewith the invention in the form of a floor or standing lamp, that it may be made in different forms of casings, for attachment to side walls of rooms, ceiling of rooms, automobile lights, marine lights, search lights and the like, or employed in any place where a light of low voltage and high candle power is to be operated from a source of higher power and voltage or from a different current.

As herewith shown, the lamp comprises a base ID, of any desired shape and size and having the' flanged edge 8 and the central opening I within which is secured the base casing |2 by its flange 9; and to the upper end of this base casing I2.

is secured the lower end of the outer telescoping staff member |3; the upper end of which is threaded and also secured into the stationary member 22 of the clamping device.

The base It! is also provided with the feet or castors M; the service cable bushing l5; the two binding posts l6; while within. the casing H are attached to the flanged edge 9 and the base l a supporting member I, which has secured thereon the insulating terminal block I 8 the special step-down-transformer l9, and the lower bearing of insulating material 2|] for the conductor rod 2|; while in the side wall of said casing I2 is mounted the switch The upper end of theouter staff member I3 is secured in the stationary part of the locking member 22 and is formed with the threads to engage the internal threads 24 of'the tapered bore of the rotatable clamp member 46, whereby the member 40 is compressed upon the staff I3 to retain it in its adjusted position.

The stationary member 22 of the clamp is provided with a switch 4| adjacent to openings 80 and BI formed in the walls of'the staff l3, and within the inner staff 25 and upon the conductor rod 2| is mounted a ball 82 of insulating material which acts as a guide for the rod 2| within the staff 25-andprevents its being shorted therewith; the ball 82- is notched on one side to allow the passage of the wire 39.

The lower endof the staff 25-is provided with a guide bushing 83 of insulating material which can slide upon the rod 2! and adjacent thereon and secured to the end of the staff 25 is a contact member 84 having the resilient fingers 85 adapted to slide upon the rod 2|and transmit the'current from the rod 2| to the staff 25; the lower endof the rod 2| having a clamp '86 to which the wire carrying the current is attached.

The upper staff member 25 is secured at its upper end within the lower part of a bracket member 26 which is formed with a fuse chamber 21 having a. detachable cover 42 and to the side walls of which are secured by the screws 28 and 29 the lamp bracket supporting arms 30 and 3|; the arm 3| being electrically insulated .from the member 26 by a pad 32 of insulating. material and the bushing 33, and washers 34, also of insulating material and these arms are located in such a manner that the arm 30 and staff member 25 act as one electrical conductor and the arm 3| acts as the other electrical conductor for the current for the light bulb.

Carried by the screw 29 is a bracket 35 upon which is mounted the fuse holder 36 for the fuse 31; the terminals of said fuse holder 36 being connected by the wire 38 leading to the screw 28 and the wire 39 leading to the switch 4|; and from the switch 4| to the contact fingers '85.

To the outer ends of the arms 30 and 3| are secured the lamp supporting brackets 43 and 44,

each constituting an electrical conductor and each insulated from the other as above described.

The lamp proper comprises a conical shell 45 formed with the tubular trunnions 46 and 41 the trunnion 46 being pivotally connected to the supporting bracket 43 by the bolt 48 and nuts 49 and 56; while the trunnion 41 is pivotally connected to the bracket 44 by the bolt and nut 52 and 53, but in this case the trunnion 41 is insulated from the shell 45 by the insulating bushing 54 and washer 55.

Within the outer end of the lamp shell 45 is mounted by the bezel ring 5'! the frosted lens 10, and a parabolic reflector 56 of special design having in the apex thereof a bearing 58 within which is adjustably mounted the body portion 59 of the bulbsocket 611, which holds the low voltage vacuum double contact filament bulb 6|.

Below this reflector 56 and within the lamp shell 45 is secured a bracket 62 upon which is mounted a resistor 63 of the required capacity depending upon the current used; and also within the shell 45 is secured another bracket 64 which carries a tilt switch 65 placed in parallel axial relation to the axis of thelamp shell 45.-

This switch 65 is-connected atone-end bythe wire 66 to one filament of-thebulb 6|, and at its other end by the wire- 61' to.one end of the -resistor 63-; a wire 68. leading from the otherend of the resistor 63-to the pivotbolt-5l whichis also connected. by the wire- 69:-to-the-other filament of the bulb 6|; the other commonterminal of the double contact bulb being grounded, the two independentcircuits are completed; the lamp shell 45 being counterbalanced by the Weight 1|, so that there is sufficient friction in the trunnions to retain the lamp shell in anydesired position as indicated in the drawings. V

Referring backto the lamp base l2, the terminal block l8 carries the binding posts or terminals l2, l3. and 14; and within the casing |2- are secured by the holders 15 the.dry cell storage batteries 16. V

I have not complicated the drawings byshowing all of thewiring asthe electrical hook-up is best explained in the Figure 80f the drawings.

In this diagram, means are provided by a single pole doublev throw switch whereby current may be supplied either from the 110 voltA. 0. current reduced by the transformer to-G-B volts, or from a 6-8 volt storage. battery, or from dry cells, and the switch over from oneto the other. instantly made by use of the one switch.

Referring to the wiring diagram, Figure 8, a 110 volt AJC. current line is indicated by the numeral 90 which feeds. through the transformer l9 andswitch4l. From. the transformer IS a wire 9| connects. to awire 69 to one terminal of the lamp 6|; while another .wire. 92 leadsto. the switch I.

The storage battery 96is connected by the wire 94.to the drycells 16. and byv the wire. 69 to. the lamp 6|.

The. dry cellsf|6are connected to thelamp-by the wire 69 and by the wire 93 to the switch], and by the use, of the switch 1 which is grounded, the, light may be supplied with current from the 110 volt mains, or the storage battery onthe dry cells, as desired. The current from the batteries not passing through the transformer,

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In anelectric lighting fixture comprising a hollow base and a lamp support and shell, of a tubular adjustable and current conducting staff secured to said base and to said shell, a combined swivel and clamp located in said staff for holding the same in vertical adjustment'and permitting free rotary movement between the telescoping parts of said stafi, a light beam diffusing lens and reflector carried by said lamp shell, a low voltage light bulb adjustably mounted in said shell, a current reducing means in said hollow base having one of its output grounded to said base, a non-flexible conductor mounted within said base and stafi' and insulated therefrom and forming the other electrical conductor to complete the circuit, a switch located in said base for controlling the current supply, a switch located in the stafi clamp for controlling the reduced current to the bulb, and means located in the lamp shell for varying the current supplied to the light bulb.

2. In a lighting lamp of the class described, comprising a hollow base and a hollow lamp shell, of means for varying the distance between the base and the lamp shell comprising a telescoping tubular stafi connected to said base and to said lamp shell, a combined swivel and adjustment clamping member located in said staff, a lamp supporting and current conducting member mounted upon said stall, the lamp shell rotatably mounted in said supporting member, a current reducing means mounted within said base and connected to the current supply mains, a dual powered light bulb adjustably mounted in the lamp shell and fed by said current reducing means, and automatic means carried by the lamp shell and connected into the transformed current supply for controlling the current voltage supplied to the dual lamp bulb and actuated by the rotation of the lamp shell in a vertical plane within the lamp support.

LEONARD SINCLAIR. 

